Jesse Walker (born September 4, 1970) is an American writer and books editor of ''

Reason Reason is the capacity of consciously applying logic by drawing valid conclusions from new or existing information, with the aim of seeking the truth. It is associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, religion, scien ...

'' magazine. The

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

alumnus has written the books ''The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory'' (HarperCollins, 2013) and ''Rebels on the Air: An Alternative History of Radio in America'' (NYU Press, 2001), and he maintains a blog called ''The Perpetual Three-Dot Column''. His articles have appeared in a number of publications, including ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', ''

The Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...

'', ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

'', ''

The Atlantic ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 185 ...

'',

Salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...

, ''

The New Republic ''The New Republic'' (often abbreviated as ''TNR'') is an American magazine focused on domestic politics, news, culture, and the arts from a left-wing perspective. It publishes ten print magazines a year and a daily online platform. ''The New Y ...

'', ''

Politico ''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American political digital newspaper company founded by American banker and media executive Robert Allbritton in 2007. It covers politics and policy in the Unit ...

'', ''

L.A. Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'', '' L.A. Weekly'', '' Chronicles'', ''

Boing Boing ''Boing Boing'' is a website, first established as a zine in 1988, later becoming a group blog. Common topics and themes include technology, futurism, science fiction, gadgets, intellectual property, Disney, and left-wing politics. It twice wo ...

'', '' No Depression'', and the '' Journal of American Studies''.

Views

Walker's writings display a definite

libertarian Libertarianism (from ; or from ) is a political philosophy that holds freedom, personal sovereignty, and liberty as primary values. Many libertarians believe that the concept of freedom is in accord with the Non-Aggression Principle, according ...

bent, and he has cast a protest vote for the Libertarian Party's nominee in every presidential election of his adult lifetime except one, though "more often than not, I think they've put up a terrible candidate."

Foreign policy

Walker was critical of the War on Terror and opposed the Patriot Act. He has stated that it is a myth that the U.S. pursued an " isolationist" foreign policy between

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Conspiracy Theories

He has identified five kinds of conspiracy theories: * The "Enemy Outside" refers to theories based on figures alleged to be scheming against a community from without. * The "Enemy Within" finds the conspirators lurking inside the nation, indistinguishable from ordinary citizens. * The "Enemy Above" involves powerful people manipulating events for their own gain. * The "Enemy Below" features the lower classes working to overturn the social order. * The "Benevolent Conspiracies" are angelic forces that work behind the scenes to improve the world and help people.Jesse Walker, ''The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory'' (2013
excerpt and text search
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Selected bibliography

* "Every Man a Sultan: Indigenous Responses to the Somalia Crisis"
''Telos''
103 (Spring 1995). New York: Telos Press.

References

External links

''Perpetual Three-Dot Column''
*
''No Depression'' archive

NPR Interview, "Suspicious? In 'United States Of Paranoia,' It's Not Just You"

Nieman Lab Interview, "The history of American conspiracy theories holds some lessons for fake news debunkers, says Jesse Walker"

Vice Interview, "America’s Not-So-Secret Paranoid Underbelly"

The Atlantic, "How Russian Trolls Imitate American Political Dysfunction"

The New Republic, "All the President’s Phantoms"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Jesse 1970 births Living people American bloggers American libertarians American magazine editors American male bloggers American male writers American political writers American historians University of Michigan alumni Place of birth missing (living people) 21st-century American non-fiction writers